SILVER LAKE DAM - MIDDLETOWN - DE00051-3104
Dam Name: SILVER LAKE DAM - MIDDLETOWN
State: DE
Downstream Hazard Potential: H
Incident Type: Non-Failure
Incident Date: 07/06/2017
Incident Driver: Deterioration or Poor Condition
Incident Mechanism 1: Gate/Valve Failure
Incident Mechanism 2Insufficient Spillway Capacity
Incident Mechanism 3
Incident IDDE00051-3104
Incident DescriptionA pop-up storm caused the road to nearly overtop and gates in the left spillway were opened. The gates could not be closed due to deflection and breakage and the pond continued to lower.
Named Hydrologic Event
EAP Enacted (Y/N) due to IncidentNo
Fatalities (Number)
Number of People Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Flooded
Other Infrastructure ImpactsRoads
Economic Damages (in $)$500,000 to $1 million
Response
Volume released at failure (ac-ft)
Additional Remarks or UpdatesAn emergency cofferdam was placed in front of gates to prevent pond from emptying. EAP procedures were followed but it was not "officially" activated. Design has been initiated to replace the gates. The economic damages only includes emergency construction of temporary sheeting and proposed design costs. We will not have an estimate for constrution costs until the design is complete.
Owner TypeS
Dam TypePGRE
Primary Purpose(s)R
EAPY
Dam Height18 ft
Max Storage (ac-ft)591.00
Surface Area (acres)39.00
Year Completed1945
NID NumberDE00051
River NameDEEP CREEK
Latitude39.438
Longitude-75.6934
Year Modified
Regulatory Agency(ies)DNREC
Incident Time
Incident Duration
Incident Report ProducedYes
Information SourcesDelDOT and DNREC Dam Safety Program
